Modern Mining August 2020

COAL

procured a Collision Avoidance System (CAS) developed by Minetec Smart Mining, a tech- nology company. The CAS is used in mining machines. After rigorous testing, the system was installed on our earthmoving equipment at Khanye,” he says. The collision avoidance system prevents accidents by providing machine operators with early audio and visual warnings, when in close proximity to another machine or structure. Key features of CAS include the ability to observe, detect and issue warnings to machine operators and sending notifications to field managers as well as control centres of existing problems. CAS provides substantial enhance- ment of the level of a driver’s awareness through its predictive detection system. The installation follows Canyon Coal’s two years of seeking for a reliable and cost-effective CAS to get the most compatible system for its require- ments. The Minetec System met Canyon Coal’s strict safety requirements following an extensive trialling period. “A great deal of research & development is still required to see a transformation in the mining indus- try and the conventional mining methods being applied,” concludes Hallatt. 

through investments in technology modernisation. Hallatt is of the view that the required technolo- gies and supporting guidelines are still at an infancy stage, especially in South Africa. If this technology was readily in place, he says, the impact of COVID‑19 on the mining industry would not have been as severe as it has been globally in recent months. “We use technology optimally to improve safety and comply with the Department of Minerals and Energy’s safety protocols. For example, we recently

The mine received exemption from the Department of Minerals & Energy shortly after the announcement of the national lockdown.

28  MODERN MINING  August 2020